Burnette
Primarily a girl's name of Old French origin with 764 recorded births. Also given to 234 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old French.
Burnette is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old French origin, from the Old French brunet, meaning 'dark-haired' or 'brown-haired.' The -ette suffix adds a French diminutive femininity, making the name literally 'little dark-haired one.'
Burnette arrived in America as a surname and gradually transferred to given-name use. It has an old-fashioned, slightly Southern quality — a name that describes a physical characteristic, like Brunette or Blanche, carrying its bearer's appearance right in the name itself.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Burnette is rooted in the Old French tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1906 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Burnette’s 764 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Burnette has 61+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1906.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | #7150 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 84 | #5280 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 140 | #3178 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 123 | #2903 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 121 | #2522 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 164 | #2412 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 116 | #2036 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 10 | #2120 | — |
The Story of Burnette
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1923, Burnette is a name steeped in history. Girls named Burnette are most likely born between 1913 and 1933.
How rare is Burnette?
With 764 total births on record, Burnette remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1906, peaked in the 1920s with 164 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Burnette by the numbers
- Would fill 16 school buses
- Meeting one Burnette per day would take 2.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(61 years, 1906–1970)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6 | #7150 |
| 1969 | 5 | #7594 |
| 1968 | 5 | #7111 |
| 1967 | 5 | #6904 |
| 1966 | 7 | #5321 |
| 1965 | 10 | #4229 |
| 1964 | 14 | #3532 |
| 1963 | 10 | #4294 |
| 1962 | 7 | #5347 |
| 1961 | 8 | #4936 |
| 1960 | 13 | #3527 |
| 1959 | 11 | #3846 |
| 1958 | 17 | #2865 |
| 1957 | 13 | #3333 |
| 1956 | 8 | #4496 |
| 1955 | 13 | #3232 |
| 1954 | 13 | #3177 |
| 1953 | 21 | #2306 |
| 1952 | 17 | #2586 |
| 1951 | 17 | #2486 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Burnette as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Burnette has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 234 births since 1915.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burnette a boy's or girl's name?
When was Burnette most popular?
How popular is the name Burnette?
Can Burnette be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1906–1970